News February 2007

New Use Of Viagra Has Been Found

Many people have heard of Viagra, but they may not have heard of a new use for the little blue pill.

For millions of men looking for love, Viagra can seem like magic. Now that magic is being tapped for babies in trouble.

"I actually think it's going to help save my baby's life," said mother Elizabeth Kohler.

Before Hannah Kohler was born, her parents knew she would have Down Syndrome and a heart defect. Her mother, said doctors fixed a leaky heart valve, but the surgeon warned that Hannah's medical journey was just beginning.

"He said, We just don't have any time to lose. She needs to be seen right away," said Kohler.

Dr. Curt Daniels of Columbus Children's Hospital found that Hannah had pulmonary hypertension; the pressure in her lungs' arteries was too high.

"And that puts extra stress on the heart. The heart becomes weak from that," said Dr. Daniels.

It could be weak enough to kill her.

"We came in last week under a crisis situation and ended up on a ventilator and in a drug induced coma. And I wasn't sure that we were going to make it to the other side," said Kohler.

So along with other drugs, Dr. Daniels wanted to give Hannah Viagra off-label. That means using a drug in a way that was not intended or approved.

"At first they're taken aback by the idea of using a medication...they hear the name that's used for impotence," said Dr. Daniels.

An increasing number of doctors around that country are trying the same thing because Viagra dilates blood vessels. The Lima family told him to go for it.

"Within days, we can notice a response," said Dr. Daniels.

It worked for Hannah. Viagra's not a cure, but it is an important tool and one that may buy her time until doctors find a cure.

"I hope that this helps another family to see that there are options and that there's hope for your child and to not give up," said Kohler.

Source http://www.10tv.com/